French photographer Romain Veillon unveils his series Secret Gardens, a body of work that turns its lens on abandoned greenhouses across the world. Once designed to shelter delicate plants from harsh climates and protect them from external threats, these structures now tell a different story. Veillon’s images reveal glasshouses overtaken by the very vegetation they were built to contain, their iron frameworks wrapped in vines and their stained glass surfaces veiled by layers of leaves. 

The greenhouses, often associated with luxury estates or public winter gardens, were built as carefully controlled environments, places where humans could cultivate life under glass. Today, stripped of caretakers, the once-captive plants have burst free, transforming sites of confinement into sprawling canvases of greenery. In Veillon’s lens, the combination of architecture and vegetation recalls impressionist paintings. The absence of people in these scenes does not erase their presence, reminding us of the impermanence of human intervention.

all images by Romain Veillon

secret gardens series exposes Humanity’s Fragile Legacy

What would happen if people suddenly disappeared? Romain Veillon’s photographs imagine this possible future while keeping us grounded in the present. They show that even abandoned, these places reflect centuries of industry, yet at the same time they reveal how quickly nature can return. 

The series suggests that human activity has often been more damaging than disaster itself. The images caution us against ignoring this truth while also showing nature’s resilience. They encourage us to think about how quickly the balance could shift and how uncertain humanity’s place on Earth really is.

Romain Veillon unveils his series Secret Gardens

capturing abandoned greenhouses across the world

these structures were once designed to shelter delicate plants from harsh climates

overtaken by the very vegetation they were built to contain

iron frameworks wrapped in vines

stained glass surfaces veiled by layers of leaves

often associated with luxury estates or public winter gardens

places where humans could cultivate life under glass

the once-captive plants have burst free

transforming sites of confinement into sprawling canvases of greenery

the combination of architecture and vegetation recalls impressionist paintings

the absence of people in these scenes does not erase their presence

project info:

name: Secret Gardens

photographer: Romain Veillon | @romain_veillon

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SAW.Earth has directed a student workshop to create an ellipsoidal greenhouse, optimizing solar exposure for the Scholes Street Community Garden in Brooklyn, NY. Over 4 weeks, with students from the New York Institute of Technology Graduate School of Architecture and Design, the team constructed an ellipse-shaped greenhouse with tiered wooden shelving to maximize area along the sun path of the garden.

all images by Dan McMahon

SAW.Earth collaborates with students on the greenhouse design

Students, along with the design team at SAW.Earth, used cedar wood and copper flashing to allow for subtle aging over time. This marks the sixth completed permanent structure SAW.Earth’s program at NYIT SoAD has built, creating structures for community gardens throughout NYC.

Ellipsoidal Greenhouse designed for a Brooklyn community garden

created through a workshop led by SAW.Earth

built in collaboration with NYIT architecture graduate students

the structure optimizes solar exposure for plant growth

shaped as an ellipse to follow the sun path

tiered wooden shelving maximizes interior growing space

cedar wood used for natural durability

elliptical geometry enhances light distribution inside

workshop provided hands-on construction experience for students

structure combines functionality with material longevity

designed to support the Scholes Street Community Garden

project info:

name: Ellipsoidal Greenhouse
architect: SAW.Earth | @saw.earth

project team director: Drew Seskunas/SAW.Earth

students: Rayhaan Albuquerque, Yeisy Batista, Devam Desai, Michelle Jungreis, Matan Lobel, Yuan Luo, Angela Madrigal, Mert Osar, Anjali Nilesh Patel, Hetvi Gauravkumar Patel, Meet Hareshkumar Patel, Alicia Daniela Perozo Maldonado, Finley Yaoming Richard

photographer: Dan McMahon | @mcmahon_photo

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During the summer of 2025, Swedish artist duo Bigert & Bergström present Broken Greenhouse / Embodied Climate Futures in Lund’s Botanical Garden. The site-specific installation explores projected climate pathways through five sculptural greenhouses. The exhibition is a collaboration between the artists, climate researchers from Umeå University, and the Botanical Garden, using architectural form to visualize the UN’s Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) for the year 2100. Each structure represents a different SSP scenario, translating scientific data into spatial and material experiences.

The Redhouse SSP2, 2025. 360 x 400 x 320 cm | all images by Jean-Baptiste Béranger

Five Climate Futures Interpreted Through Greenhouse Structures

SSP1 takes the form of a tube-shaped green greenhouse designed for circular living. Its systems are synchronized with diurnal rhythms, turning the space into a functioning environmental clock. SSP2 is materialized as an inverted red greenhouse resembling a cottage, where visitors can suspend themselves in a flagpole hammock. A third structure, SSP3, uses the shape of a rising line graph to structure a walk-through installation. Beaded glass curtains represent climate data, allowing visitors to physically engage with abstract metrics. SSP4 is embodied in a fractured greenhouse located in a more isolated section of the garden. Its cracked surfaces evoke a dried-out desert. The final installation, designed by Bigert & Bergström Studio, SSP5, is a brown greenhouse emitting smoke, symbolizing stagnation and high-emission trajectories.

the exhibition challenges viewers to rethink ecological responsibility

Broken Greenhouse installations Interpret Climate Uncertainty

The title Broken Greenhouse references both environmental degradation and the fragile state of current systems. The idea that climate change is beyond human control has been overturned, and the effects of greenhouse gas emissions are now firmly acknowledged. Bigert & Bergström’s installation invites reflection on these realities while exploring how future scenarios might be understood, anticipated, or reshaped. The subtitle Embodied Climate Futures reflects the project’s aim to visualize multiple scenarios, offering physical spaces that invite reflection on climate trajectories and potential responses.

Broken Greenhouse unfolds at Lund’s Botanical Garden

The Linechart Greenhouse SSP3, 2025. 400 x 750 x 300 cm

Bigert & Bergström collaborate with climate researchers and garden curators

The Pipedream SSP1, 2025. 310 x 600 x 300 cm

each greenhouse embodies a different climate scenario for the year 2100

spatial design translates scientific projections into physical experience

A Road Divided SSP4, 2025. 350 x 465 x 460 cm

architectural form becomes a tool for engaging with climate data

the installation brings abstract futures into tangible view

Preppers Delight SSP5, 2025. 200 x 400 x 240 cm

the exhibition addresses the human role in shaping climate outcomes

structures invite reflection on planetary vulnerability and resilience

project info:

name: Broken Greenhouse / Embodied Climate Futures
designer: Bigert & Bergström | @studiobigertbergstrom

dates: May 24th – September 20th, 2025

photographer: Jean-Baptiste Béranger | @jeanbaptisteberanger

production experts: Fredrik Eriksson, Queenning Zhao, Zoltan Schnierer, Jakob Niemann, Lars Hässler
models: Queenning Zhao
upholsterers: Mills Tapetserarateljé och Stén Möbeltapetsering
mechatronics: Björn Anéer
assistants: Tom Bigert, Liv Lemoyne
intern: Hektor Jonsäter
Soundwalk – production: Tim Bishop
Soundwalk – narrator: Robert Fux

supported by: Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation​, Formas, Längmanska, Arctic Centre at Umeå University, Climate Impacts Research Centre at Umeå University, Lund University Botanical Garden, Konstnärsnämnden

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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In the fourth chapter of his ongoing photographic series Greenhouse, German photographer David Altrath turns his lens on Vienna’s historic Palmenhaus, a monumental glass-and-steel structure from the late 19th century. Through Altrath’s cinematic compositions, the Palmenhaus emerges as a living archive of design, climate, and culture, captured in soft tones.

all images by David Altrath

the images depict the sensory richness of the greenhouse

With Greenhouse pt. 4, Hamburg-based photographer David Altrath reactivates the atmospheric power of the Palmenhaus. His photos invite the viewer to linger, to notice the interplay of structure and growth, of time and temperature. 

Originally constructed in 1881/82 on the grounds of the former Dutch Botanical Garden, the Palmenhaus stretches 113 meters and is divided into three interconnected pavilions. The central pavilion rises to 28 meters, its soaring form flanked by two slightly lower wings that together form a sweeping rhythm of arches and iron. This architectural composition is functional and expressive, forming a delicate balance between industrial precision and organic flow.

Each section of the greenhouse hosts a distinct climate zone. A cold house is located in the north, a temperate zone at the core, and a tropical house in the southern wing. This triadic arrangement allows visitors to traverse diverse biomes within one continuous glass expanse. Altrath’s imagery captures the sensory richness of these spaces, dense foliage, filtered light, misted air, all rendered with the subtle texture of analog film.

this is the fourth chapter of Altrath’s ongoing photographic series Greenhouse

the German photographer turns his lens on Vienna’s historic Palmenhaus

a monumental glass-and-steel structure from the late 19th century

the Palmenhaus emerges as a living archive of design, climate, and culture

Altrath’s cinematic compositions capture the venue in soft tones

with Greenhouse pt. 4 David Altrath reactivates the atmospheric power of the Palmenhaus

the photos invite the viewer to linger, to notice the interplay of structure and growth, of time and temperature

the Palmenhaus stretches 113 meters and is divided into three interconnected pavilions

each section of the greenhouse hosts a distinct climate zone

a cold house is located in the north, a temperate zone at the core, and a tropical house in the southern wing

Altrath’s imagery captures the sensory richness of these spaces

project info:

name: Greenhouse IV

photographer: David Altrath | @davidaltrath

location: Vienna, Austria

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Invernáculo is a pilot initiative by the Madrid Regional Government that explores new methods of communicating cultural activities in urban space. Instead of relying on conventional advertising formats, it introduces billboard-greenhouses that extend exhibitions into the public realm. The system integrates exhibition content into greenhouse structures, displaying large-format commissioned images to create an open-air extension of the advertised exhibitions. The project conceived by Lluis Alexandre Casanovas Blanco proposes an alternative to posters, banners, MUPIs (Urban Furniture as Information Points), and OPIs (Illuminated Advertising Objects) by incorporating elements of urban furniture. It is part of a broader research effort examining new interactions between cultural institutions and public space, building on previous projects such as Exedra and Three Landscape Essays.

Invernáculo utilizes a greenhouse as a structural support for large-scale images commissioned from photographers and artists. These images reinterpret exhibition pieces, forming an additional layer of visual content in an outdoor setting. The first iteration of the system is located near the Canal de Isabel II Exhibition Hall and the adjacent Third Reservoir Park, where site conditions influenced the design parameters. The park, positioned over one of the four water reservoirs of the Canal de Isabel II, exemplifies the challenges of integrating structures into urban landscapes shaped by subterranean infrastructure, such as parking facilities, utility networks, and access points.

all images by Jon Cazenave

metal frame and concrete planters compose Invernáculo

The billboard-greenhouses consist of metal frames designed to hold images. Their structure references the fencing design on the rooftop of Madrid’s Colegio Maravillas by Alejandro de la Sota, emphasizing the spatial characteristics of urban roofs. The frames are enclosed with transparent methacrylate sheets, forming transportable greenhouse units or Wardian cases, controlled environments for species requiring specific conditions. Prefabricated concrete planters serve as the foundation, providing both rooting material for vegetation and integrated water storage. The added weight ensures stability while allowing for transport and relocation.

Designed for potential expansion across the city, Invernáculo by designer Lluis Alexandre Casanovas Blanco exists between greenhouse typology and museum display structures. Without conventional wall cladding, it reveals an exposed framework that accommodates new forms of growth and adaptation. The structure functions as both an independent urban element and a prototype for architectural experimentation.

Invernáculo reimagines urban advertising by integrating exhibition content into greenhouse structures

billboard-greenhouses display large-scale commissioned images, extending exhibitions into public space

a system of planters serves both as a foundation and as a medium for plant growth

urban furniture transforms into a dynamic exhibition space

transparent methacrylate sheets enclose the structures, forming transportable greenhouse units

the project integrates prefabricated concrete planters, balancing functionality with visual presence

by merging museum displays with greenhouse structures, the project fosters new forms of exhibition

the structure reveals an exposed framework for experimentation

as an adaptable prototype, Invernáculo can be implemented in various urban environments

designed for relocation, the greenhouses provide a flexible and adaptive cultural display system

axonometric diagram

project info:

name: Invernáculo: A New Cultural Billboard System for the Region of Madrid
designer: Lluis Alexandre Casanovas Blanco | @lluis.alexandre.casanovas

location: Madrid, Spain

collaborators: Irene Domínguez Serrano, Inés González Paradela

structural engineer: Jorge López Hidalgo

contractors: Intervento, Carpintería Expandida (structures), Boomerang (graphics), Nikolás Téllez (concrete)

client: Consejería de Cultura, Turismo y Deporte, Comunidad de Madrid | @comunidadmadrid

coordinator: Alicia Nieto

photographer: Jon Cazenave | @joncazenave

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Your Greenhouse Is Your Kitchen is a multifunctional pavilion situated within an urban garden in Guangzhou, China, amalgamating the roles of a greenhouse, an outdoor kitchen, and a living room. Developed by Office for Roundtable and JXY Studio, the architectural device speculates on the medium of food as a catalyst for fostering agricultural and social connections, proposing new forms of domesticity and collective living that bridge the relationships between body, land, and city.

The boundaries and connections between nature and the artifacts are constantly at play in determining the role of the steel pavilion. When enclosed, it serves as a greenhouse, reflecting the change of seasons and the growth of leaves on the translucent exterior; when opened, it transforms into an outdoor living space, encouraging new forms of sharing that conflate everyday activities.

all images by Office for Roundtable

modular elements enable flexibility

The pavilion is characterized by an assembly of modular elements that underscore its inherent simplicity and lightness. Constructed primarily with angle steel and encased in polycarbonate sheets, the pavilion is moderated at varied heights through adjustable cables that stabilize the panels. In its flexibility and indeterminacy, this temporary structure allows for reconfiguration through its movable and operable furniture, animating the surroundings with vegetable growing racks, kitchen counters, and folding tables — all made from the same material palette.

Office for Roundtable (see more here) and JXY Studio (see more here) ensure that the pavilion embodies a microclimate of care for both plants and humans. It fosters the remediation of contaminated soil sourced from the adjacent urban farm, which is stored in portable pots designed for cultivating plants and facilitating the exchange of products among community members. Rainwater, harvested and filtered through the metal reservoir overhead, circulates in the pavilion for gardening and cooking activities. Owing to spatial tactics that mitigate the challenges posed by extreme weather in a subtropical climate — such as strategic gaps between panels for passive cooling — the structure is permeated with proper wind and sunlight that foster a conducive environment for plants, providing the visitors with balanced conditions of ventilation and shading to co-inhabit the space with plants and other species.

developed by Office for Roundtable and JXY Studio

Your Greenhouse Is Your Kitchen emerges as a spatial manifestation of food that proposes new sets of social norms and spatial politics. By facilitating the interplay between farming and preparing food, between delivering and consuming food, and between caring and sharing food, the pavilion is a place to get together on a sunny, breezy afternoon, where the hustles of activities, the shadows of trees, and the silhouettes of birds and other living beings, all slowly blend into the tranquil background of nature, after the last ray of sunlight.

the pavilion is situated in an urban garden in Guangzhou, China

it also functions as an outdoor kitchen that encourages social gathering

doubling as a greenhouse that promotes gardening and farming as a collective activity

constructed with angle steel and encased in polycarbonate sheets, the pavilion is moderated at varied heights

rainwater is harvested and filtered through the metal reservoir overhead

this temporary structure allows for reconfiguration through its movable furniture

contaminated soil collected from the adjacent urban farm, stored in portable pots designed for cultivating plants

the harvested rainwater will also be used to clean produce sourced from the pavilion and for cooking activities

growing racks are mobilized to take advantage of the weather conditions

the filtered rainwater circulates in the pavilion for gardening

project info:

name: Your Greenhouse Is Your Kitchen
architect: Office for Roundtable | @office.roundtable, JXY Studio | @jxy_studio

design team: Leyuan Li, Jiaxun Xu, Yue Xu

location: Guangzhou, China

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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Longwood Gardens, one of the most iconic horticultural destinations in the United States, unveils its highly anticipated transformation on November 22nd, 2024. The project, named Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience, is the most ambitious reimagination in the greenhouse and garden’s 100-year history. Spearheaded by architecture firm Weiss/Manfredi and landscape architecture firm Reed Hilderbrand, the revival spans seventeen acres, introducing state-of-the-art facilities, dynamic landscapes, and expanded visitor amenities. This milestone coincides with Longwood’s beloved holiday event, A Longwood Christmas, which will run through January 12th, 2025.

image by Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy Weiss/Manfredi

The Mediterranean Garden: A Living Tapestry

At the heart of the project at Pennsylvania’s Longwood Gardens is a stunning 32,000-square-foot glass conservatory designed by the architects at Weiss/Manfredi. Dubbed the West Conservatory, the structure features crystalline, asymmetrical peaks that appear to float above a reflective pool. Inside, a Mediterranean Garden by landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand showcases a unique blend of cultivated gardens and wild landscapes inspired by six Mediterranean ecozones worldwide. The space integrates innovative sustainable features, including 128 geothermal wells and earth ducts that regulate temperature efficiently, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. This forward-thinking design ensures a comfortable, energy-efficient environment year-round.

image by Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy Weiss/Manfredi

Preserving Burle Marx’s Cascade Garden

The Mediterranean Garden within the Longwood Gardens’ West Conservatory is filled with lush plantings and serene water features. Drifts of shrubs, perennials, and iconic species such as agaves, aloes, and bay laurels create a dynamic, textured landscape. Cast stone pathways and trellised citrus trees provide natural transitions between intimate spaces and grand vistas. Seasonal blooms enhance the garden’s beauty, offering fresh visual interest with each visit.

Another highlight of Longwood Reimagined is the preservation and relocation of the Cascade Garden, the only surviving North American design by renowned Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. Now housed in a purpose-built 3,800-square-foot glasshouse, the garden faithfully recreates its original rock walls, cascading waterfalls, and lush tropical plantings. The Bonsai Courtyard introduces a 12,500-square-foot outdoor gallery, designed to display Longwood’s world-class bonsai collection. Enclosed by hornbeam hedges and accented by cherry trees, the space offers contemplative settings to admire specimens that have been cultivated for over a century. 

image by Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto, courtesy Longwood Gardens

image by Ngoc Minh Ngo, courtesy Reed Hilderbrand

image by Ngoc Minh Ngo, courtesy Reed Hilderbrand

image by Ngoc Minh Ngo, courtesy Reed Hilderbrand

image by Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy Weiss/Manfredi

image by Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy Weiss/Manfredi

project info:

name: Longwood Gardens | @longwoodgardens

architecture: Weiss/Manfredi | @weissmanfredi

landscape architecture: Reed Hilderbrand | @reedhilderbrand

location: Pennsylvania, USA

photography: © Albert Vecerka/Esto, Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto, Ngoc Minh Ngo

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The newly completed Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA) in Shanghai reflects the shifting global recognition of nature as a critical part of our living environment. This latest project integrates DMAA’s extensive technical and cultural expertise in greenhouse design, presenting a new approach that prioritizes sustainability at every level.

In Shanghai‘s Pudong district, known for its growing skyline, the Expo Cultural Park now stands as a sustainable urban solution amid rapid development and the environmental pressures of urban expansion. Shanghai’s environmental challenges, including high pollution, water shortages, and rising temperatures, have prompted the city to pursue radical, large-scale projects aimed at preserving natural habitats and pushing forward China’s sustainability agenda.

images © CreatAR

from Industrial Site to Urban Park in shanghai

Once home to a coal-fired power plant and steelworks, the site of Expo Cultural Park was remodeled for Expo 2010 before being reimagined by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects as a large recreational space and greenhouse in central Shanghai. The new project repurposes the steel structure of a former industrial hall, integrating organically shaped pavilions beneath this framework. This duality of industry and nature and of tradition and future illustrates Shanghai’s historical turning point toward a greener, more sustainable urban core.

Traditional greenhouses are energy-intensive, and the architects‘ design aims to counter this by creating a zero-energy building. Single glazing was chosen for the structure based on simulations showing that it would be more energy-efficient than double glazing, as it reduces heat loss without the need for artificial lighting. The design incorporates a naturally ventilated roof with adjustable openings, while a pool with integrated photovoltaic panels provides both cooling and energy for the greenhouse.

the Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse by DMAA emphasizes nature as central to urban design

Diverse Biomes within Pavilions

Shanghai’s Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse is organized into three distinct pavilions. The first pavilion replicates the arid environment of a desert, complete with sandy and rocky landscapes supporting drought-tolerant plants at risk of extinction. The second pavilion contrasts this with a lush tropical rainforest, while the third pavilion features vertical flower gardens and serves as a flexible space for traveling exhibitions. A terrace above these pavilions offers panoramic views of both the park and the surrounding urban landscape.

Within and around the greenhouses, a network of pathways allows visitors to experience a carefully orchestrated flow through the space. Transparent parapets and graded pathways shape the pace and movement of visitors, enhancing their connection to the varied ecosystems. Inspired by natural water cycles, the water levels vary between desert and tropical areas, drawing attention to the issue of water scarcity — a pressing concern in the era of climate change. The fluid form of the facade symbolizes this adaptable relationship between humans and nature, becoming a visual and functional motif of the project.

the project repurposes a former industrial hall, merging elements of industry and nature

the greenhouse is designed as a zero-energy building with single glazing and natural ventilation

three distinct pavilions showcase desert, tropical rainforest, and vertical flower gardens

elevated terraces offer panoramic views of the park and surrounding cityscape

interconnected pathways guide visitors through varied spatial and ecological experiences

the facade’s flowing design reflects the adaptive relationship between humans and nature

project info:

name: Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse

architect: Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA) | @deluganmeissl

location: Shanghai, China

completion: September 2024

area: 47,000 square meters

photography: © CreatAR | @creatarimages

project manager: Diogo Teixeira
project team: Yue Chen, Jurgis Gecys, Thomas Peter-Hindelang, Toms Kampars, Prima Mathawabhan, Sebastian Michalski, Ernesto Mulch, Maximilian Tronnier, Toni Nachev, Marillies Wedl
coordination: Yiju Ding
executive planning: SIADR Co.Ltd
structural engineering: Bollinger + Grohmann ZT GmbH
energy design: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH
landscape design: Yiju Ding

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A new botanical garden, The Leaf, has taken root in Winnipeg‘s Assiniboine Park, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the world of plants and nature. Designed by KPMB Architects in collaboration with Architecture49, Blackwell Structural Engineers, and HTFC Planning & Design, The Leaf brings 35 acres of sustainable architecture and lush gardens to Manitoba. With its spiraling glass rooftop, the greenhouse-style project marks KPMB Architects’ first venture into the realm of horticultural design, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world while setting an impressive precedent for future endeavors.

images © Ema Peter | @emaphotographi

Assiniboine Park’s new icon

The Leaf is an important addition to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s ambitious redevelopment plan, which has been breathing new life into this century-old park since 2009. The architects at KPMB have designed it as an extension of the park’s existing attractions, including the Assiniboine Park Zoo, to create a dynamic and engaging ecosystem that is both educational and architecturally-minded.

At first glance, The Leaf celebrates the dialogue between architecture and nature, with its distinctive roof design informed by the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical phenomenon often found in the spirals of sunflowers and nautilus shells. The complex cablenet structure gracefully unfurls around the building, reminiscent of a blossoming flower. Ingeniously placed lights and reflectors within the building replicate the atmospheric effects of natural moonlight, thunderstorms, and the Northern Lights. This organic, curvilinear form beautifully mirrors the simplicity and complexity of the diverse plant species it houses.

glass walls enveloping the structure open toward panoramic views

A Hub for Botanical Education and Exploration

Comprising four distinct biomes, The Leaf hosts over 12,000 trees, shrubs, and flowers, and 400 unique plant species. Visitors embark on their journey in the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, which features a meandering pathway and Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall. The Mediterranean Biome showcases a vibrant tapestry of colors, textures, and fragrances from Greece, Italy, South Africa, and Chile. The Babs Asper Display House dazzles with rotating floral displays, exploring seasonal and global themes, while the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden offers a canopy walkway overlooking the Tropical Biome. Glass walls enveloping the structure open toward panoramic views, blurring the line between interior and exterior, and allowing visitors to take in the surrounding landscape.

the complex roof structure unfurls around the building to recall a blossoming flower

The Leaf ranks among Canada’s largest Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) buildings, demonstrating the material’s superior thermal performance compared to conventional greenhouse materials. Winnipeg’s extreme temperature variations demand robust solutions, and the ETFE roof delivers with exceptional transparency, ensuring enough sunlight reaches the indoor biomes. Natural ventilation and an open-loop geothermal system, powered by subsurface water flow, maintain optimal temperatures within the biomes, while mist fans provide cooling for both plants and visitors, ensuring a comfortable environment.

the garden features a meandering pathway and Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall

‘As Winnipegger’s we celebrate the extremes of our climate, however even the hardiest of us appreciate a break from the long cold dry winter,’ writes Lee McCormick, Managing Principal at Architecture49 Manitoba. ‘The Leaf is an affordable, approachable and accessible urban oasis in the winter desert that transports one temporarily away and connects all people to plants in faraway lands. The facility is a fantastical technical achievement that elevates the spirit through the amplification of the natural systems to allow visitors to reawaken their appreciation of the horticultural world while the outside world is in hibernation.’

the project creates a dynamic new ecosystem that is both educational and architecturally-minded

the project ranks among Canada’s largest Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) buildings

comprising four distinct biomes, The Leaf hosts over 400 unique plant species

the spiraling rooftop design was informed by the Fibonacci sequence

project info:

project title: The Leaf

architecture: KPMB Architects | @kpmbarch

location: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada | @assiniboineparkzoo

collaborator: Architecture49 | @architecture49

structure: Blackwell Structural Engineers | @blackwellengineers

landscape: HTFC Planning & Design | @htfcwpg

completion: 2022

photography: © Ema Peter | @emaphotographi

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NEOM has announced a collaboration with Dutch greenhouse company Van Der Hoeven in an effort to introduce flourishing gardens amidst the arid deserts of Saudi Arabia. As the ‘city of the future’ hopes to become a self-sustaining oasis and home to millions of people, food security has become a priority for the city’s planners. The Dutch horticultural experts have been enlisted to design, build, and operate two test facilities together covering 110,000 square-meters along the city’s outskirts. With this urban farming solution, the team plans to create a controlled climate for efficient and sustainable food production. 

NEOM comprises four ‘megacities’ and is perhaps most well-known for its mirrored city THE LINE. Currently under construction, the 170 kilometer-long ‘groundscraper’ is planned to be car-free and powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The recently announced greenhouse facilities will further NEOM’s self-sustaining vision.

image courtesy NEOM

dutch horticulture to arrive in saudi arabia

With Saudi Arabia’s unforgiving desert climate, NEOM‘s horticultural plans are ambitious — so teaming with the Dutch greenhouse company is a smart move. Even with its relatively small size, the Netherlands is the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter after the United States. According to the Washington Post, more than half of the European country’s land is used for agriculture. Almost 24,000 acres are occupied by highly efficient greenhouses — an area nearly double the size of Manhattan — which require just one-tenth of the land area required by traditional farming. 

This technology can offer a lot to the challenging climate of Saudi Arabia. The nation relies mainly on imports to supply its food, as local growers struggle with efficient cultivation and water shortages and the Dutch-built greenhouses require substantially less fertilizer and water. The Washington Post reports: ‘Dutch farms use only a half-gallon of water to grow about a pound of tomatoes, while the global average is more than 28 gallons.’

24,000 acres of the Netherlands are occupied by greenhouses | image courtesy Van Der Hoeven

established greenhouses in the gulf region

NEOM has contracted Van der Hoeven, which is itself is a global leader in the design, build, and operation of horticultural infrastructure. The company has joined the Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD), a foundation which aims to bring the nation’s expertise around the world in an effort to offer large-scale food production in a range of climates. The company already has an established presence in the Middle East. Van Der Hoeven sales director Bas Duijvestijn gives an example of their efforts, commenting: ‘Four years ago, we built a tomato nursery of more than 11 hectares in Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. This was the first large-scale modern greenhouse in that region.’

Duijvestijn describes his hopes for future development: ‘It will come as no surprise that growing vegetables in the Gulf region is no simple task and makes different demands from growing them in Northwestern Europe. A hot and sometimes humid climate along with severe water shortages make growing crops here a major challenge… the Gulf region offers great opportunities for producers of greenhouse technology.’

Armela Farms, a two-hectare glasshouse lettuce farm in the UAE built by Van Der Hoeven in 2021 | image via DGD

The team at Van Der Hoeven notes that it is possible to source water by desalinating sea water — a strategy which the planners at NEOM claim will be the main source of water for the city. In an interview with designboom, NEOM’s director of urban planning explains: ‘The extraction of potable water from sea water is usual frowned upon because the process involves dumping the salts back into the sea. This alters the salinity of the water, and in turn the ecology of the sea. In NEOM, we have a zero-brine discharge policy, meaning the salts will be retained and used for other purposes.’

Van Der Hoeven is enlisted to design, build, and operate the NEOM greenhouses | image courtesy Van Der Hoeven

project info:

greenhouse company: Van Der Hoeven

client: NEOM | @discoverneom

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